Vehicle-wheel.



' PATENTED FER-1.1, 190s. G. c. 'WIMPEE.

VEHICLE WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED MAL-1a. 1907.

WITNESSES j Y P [/v ENTOR v I c A frag/v5 1 5 UNITED STATES PATENT orr oa.

GEORGE ooLvIN 'WIMPEE, or ROME, GEORGIA.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.v

' v Patented Feb. 1 1 1908.

Application filed March 18. 1907- Serial No. 363.056-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE COLVIN WIM- PE-E, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rome, in the county of Floyd and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful VehicleWheel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle wheels and its object is to provide a rim or felly formed in a single piece of metal and so shaped as to render the wheel light and durable.

A still further object is to provide means whereby the spokes can be securely fastened to the felly without danger of becoming deof a wheel constructed in accordance with the present invention, portions of the felly being broken away; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section through the telly and the connection between it and a spoke;

Referring to the figures by characters of references, 1 is a rim or fellyi-onsisting of a single. strip of metal having inwardly extending parallel flanges 2 forming an inner groove The, ends of the strip arefastened together by a coupling plate 4 which fits snugly within the end portion of the groove3 and is fastened in place by means of bolts 5'wh1ch extend through the coupling plate and felly.

Either a metal or a rubber tire 6 may be placed upon the felly. Arranged within the groove 3 at regular intervals are cylindrical sockets 7 having their bases closed as shown at 8 and the internal. diameter of each of these sockets is sufficient to permit one end of a spoke 9 to project thereinto without the necessity of reducing the diameter of the spoke and therefore weakening it; Each socket is held in place preferably by a screw 10 which extends through the folly and the base of the socket and into the end of the spoke as shown particularly in Fig. 2; Displacement of the screw is prevented the tire 6 and splitting of the spoke is prevented by4the socket 7. A felly constructed in the mannerherein described may be made lighter than an ordinary wooden felly but will be'much morr .lurable and will positively prevent dishing, such as frequently occurs particularly whena rubber tire is used upon the wheel. As the felly is formed in a single 'piece there are no parts likely to; split or It is to be 'underst'ood:

become separated. that the coupling plate 4 is placed almost entirely within the groove 3 and thebolts 5 are therefore relieved of all transverse strains to which they might otherwise besubjected.

What is claimed is:

1. A wheel having a metallic felly having a continuousgroove in the inner face thereof,

sockets having closed bases fitted within'the grooves, it spoke seated within each socket, securing devices extending through the felly and into the spokes, and a tire upon'the folly for retaining the securing devices therein.

2. A wheel having a felly consisting ofa metal strip having abutting ends, inwardlyextending parallel flanges integral with the;

strip and forming an inner groove or channel, a coupling plate secured within the end ortions of the grooves'for fastening the en 3 of the strip together, sockets within the grooves and having closed bases, spokes seated withiirthe sockets, securing devices extending through the felly and the bases of the sockets and into the spokes, and a tire extending over said securing devices to prevent displacement thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto alfixed my signature in the presenceof two witnesses.

GEORGE COLVIN WIMPEE. Witnesses:

llUGH MoCRoRY,

J. A. JENKINS. 

